We’ve all had the unfortunate experience of checking our power bill to see a massive number at the end of the month. If you don’t want to spend a fortune on home energy costs, here are some tips you can use as a homeowner.
LED Lighting
Leaving lights on around the house can lead to expensive energy bills, so cutting back on the energy your lights use is a big step to take. Simply switching from incandescent light bulbs to LED light bulbs can save you a significant amount each month. Not only do LED bulbs last longer, but they also use 75% less energy.
HVAC Tips
Heating and cooling your home is one of the most expensive parts of being a homeowner. The trick is making sure your HVAC system is in good shape and using it the right way. This starts by having somebody inspect your HVAC system and perform seasonal maintenance once or twice each year.
It’s also important to keep your thermostat at a level temperature throughout the day. While it can be tempting to crank your thermostat up or down for quick heating or cooling, that’s not an energy-efficient way to use your HVAC system.
Unplugging
If you have a lot of electronics plugged in around your home, consider unplugging some of them while they’re not in use. This power use is referred to as phantom power or standby power, and it can account for as much as 10 percent of your home energy bill. Things like laptop and phone chargers are particularly bad offenders when it comes to standby power use.
Fridge and Freezer Tips
You might not think there’s much you can do to reduce the cost of running a refrigerator and freezer, but that’s far from the case. Simply keeping your fridge and freezer full puts less of a load on the appliance, which saves you money and extends the life of your fridge.
Clean Your Dryer
This might not be the biggest money-saving tip, but keeping your dryer exhaust clean is a good way to make sure you have an energy-efficient dryer. Airflow is critical to the drying process, so you want to make sure you’re cleaning your dryer’s exhaust at least once a year.
Learn Peak Hours
At certain times of the day when electricity is in higher demand, it costs more. Because of this, you can save a significant amount of money by simply learning what peak hours are in your area and doing certain things outside of those hours. It’s particularly important to run your dishwasher and do laundry at night if you want to save on your energy bill without upgrading to energy-efficient appliances.
Being a homeowner is a lot of work, especially if you don’t want to pay a fortune for electricity. Fortunately, following these tips and choosing an energy-efficient home can help you save money. If you’re in the market for a quality home that’s built to save you money on energy costs, contact Grand Homes to learn more about our available homes, specials and designs.
